Mark Coley refused to let the woman eat, access her mobile phone and even tied her up on occasions so she couldn’t leave his address in Dudley.
He persuaded her to meet with him in summer 2022 and then forced the woman into his flat where he made threats and claimed cameras were monitoring her.
Coley also controlled her finances and it was only in September he ‘trusted’ her to have access to a phone.
She took the opportunity to ring a relative, who contacted us, and fled the address.
However, Coley managed to quickly track her down to a hotel in the area and took her to a caravan and other guesthouses. Following extensive enquiries, we traced them both to Stourport in October.
Coley – who sustained serious head injuries following a collision as a teenager – was arrested and denied any wrongdoing.
However, following a trial he was convicted of rape and coercive control.
The 35-year-old, of New Rowley Road, Dudley, was jailed for 18 years at Wolverhampton Crown Court last Friday (31 May). He was also put on the sex offender register for life.
These actions were deplorable and there can never be any justification for such vile behaviour or abuse.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse or coercive control, we have specially trained officers who can help.
